Freedom For Today

Take a moment to read 1 Corinthians 10:1-11 before reading the devotional below.

It’s never a good idea to mess with the supernatural realm. It’s also not a good idea to mess with things God has commanded us not to do. Some people get hung up on guilt, but it’s really not about that. It’s about danger. Sin is dangerous. It will harm you.

Today’s passage reminds us of the stories found in the book of Exodus (the second book in the Bible). The Israelite people tested God. They did not take his warnings seriously. A lot of them never made it to the Promised Land as a result. They died in the wilderness because they wanted to hang on to a lifestyle that was harmful.

Here’s your freedom for today:

God wants to keep you safe.

God has promised eternal rewards for those who follow Jesus. He has an awesome life for you. His plans are literally out of this world. Sinful living destroys you. There’s no way around it. This is because in the supernatural realm there is no neutral ground. You are in God’s territory or you are walking into Satan’s. Sin brings us into an enemy camp in the middle of a war. You will be taken prisoner if you don’t take the escape God is giving you. Is there something you need to do to be spiritually protected today?

Take a moment to read 1 Corinthians 9:22-27 before reading the devotional below.

I recently ran a 5K race. Hardly a marathon, but I did train for it by running three times per week and doing some strength training. After all that work, it would stink to be disqualified. I hoped to run, and run well (and while I didn’t win any prizes I did get a personal best!).

In today’s passage, Paul is comparing the Christian spiritual journey to a race. He wants to be able to connect with any person on the planet to be able to share the good news of Jesus with them. It doesn’t matter who they are, Paul’s race (and ours too) is about reaching everyone with this news. He doesn’t want to be disqualified because he neglected anyone or anything. His goal is to win an eternal prize.

Here’s your freedom for today:

Someone has run the race for you.

If you are reading this right now, someone else has run their spiritual race to make sure you heard about Jesus. Maybe it is a friend, neighbor, parent, or pastor — someone has invited, shared, and prayed for you. Now you have an opportunity to jump in the race and run it by telling others about the good news of Jesus. He came to save us all from destruction and death. Find someone to tell today!

Take a moment to read 1 Corinthians 9:13-21 before reading the devotional below.

Recall from yesterday’s post that Paul was defending the right of the apostles (Peter in particular) to be paid by the churches in order to continue doing ministry. Paul continues here to describe his sense of calling, and it is worth taking time to observe what we can about the example Paul offers.

Paul describes himself as a slave, and says he has “no choice” but to proclaim the Gospel because he is compelled by God to do it. Sometimes people want a personal sense of calling from God, and while we all have a calling to share the Gospel, some are called to give up normal life in a unique way. One sign of a true calling from God is a sense that you couldn’t put it down if you tried. That could feel like slavery, but with God it is freedom.

Here’s your freedom for today:

God’s assignments are an invitation.

When God calls you to minister to others, it is an invitation to participate in the work he is doing around the world. Some work in local churches, some travel as missionaries, and some serve their neighbors and communities. What is one thing you can’t seem to let go of? Something you just HAVE to do something about? Maybe you have cared about a certain cause or problem throughout your life and you just can’t shake it. Whatever you are asking God to do to solve that issue, consider responding to it yourself. I have a sign in my house that says, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” God has invited you to participate in his work. If you have a burden for something, respond! Be the answer to the prayers you have been praying.

Take a moment to read 1 Corinthians 9:1-12 before reading the devotional below.

In this letter to the Corinthians, Paul is addressing some issues that we do not have information about. We can only infer from what Paul writes that there were some disputes about a variety of matters, one of which was paying the apostles who visited the church. Some in the church must have raised questions about why they should pay the apostles to come into town.

Paul compares his life as a missionary and apostle (leader of the broader, growing church) to that of a soldier and a farmer. He’s fighting a spiritual war. He’s planting spiritual seeds. And even though he is entitled to pay, he personally doesn’t try to claim that right. He doesn’t mention it here, but Paul supported himself with a side business making tents. Here he is defending the rights of others, like Peter, who are married and have given their lives for the sake of sharing the Gospel.

Here’s your freedom for today:

You are part of a larger work.

The Bible tells us, both here and in the Old Testament verses that Paul references, to give to the church to support the leaders. We also give to missionaries who work around the world to bring hope and help to those in need. Not everyone is called to be a church leader or missionary, but we are all part of the spiritual work. If you are not called to go, you are called to support those who do. This role should not be seen as a requirement or dreaded obligation, but rather an honorable way to participate in God’s work around the world. How can you jump into this movement that is bigger than any of us?

Take a moment to read 1 Corinthians 8:9-13 before reading the devotional below.

Your spiritual life is not about you. Obviously, first and foremost your spiritual life is about Jesus if you have chosen to follow him. But in addition to that, your spiritual life is about those around you. How you live and treat others matters — so much, in fact, that Jesus summed it all up as “Love God and love others.”

There are different ways that we can embrace our freedom given to us by Jesus. We can live out the reality that rules are not the most important thing. There is freedom in that. But if someone alongside you in the spiritual journey follows some rules because they find freedom in that, you don’t need to make their spiritual life harder. Give them room to live by their conviction and have the humility to participate with them if the opportunity arises.

Here’s your freedom for today:

Your freedom is meant for sharing.

These verses talk about not causing another follower of Jesus to stumble in their faith. That means if you are doing something because you feel free to do it, but another person may struggle with handling that freedom, give up your rights for the other person. In my church, these verses are the basis for our decision to have everyone in leadership or any influencer position commit to not drink alcohol. It’s not because we claim that alcohol is always categorically wrong. But in our context with a lot of recovering (or in need of recovering) alcoholics, drinking is something we give up in solidarity. We would not want anyone to relapse because they saw someone they looked up to having a drink. What could you give up for your brothers and sisters in Christ? How might this give you even more freedom than hanging on to what you feel is “allowed” for Christians?